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(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 1. f``

J. P. SNEDIKER. GLAMPING DEVICE EUR BUTTON HOLE SEWING MACHINES.

No. 263,979. Patented sept. 5, 1882.

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(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

J. F. SNEDIKER.

GLAMPING DEVICE POR BUTTON HGLE SEWING MACHINES. No. 263.979. Patented Sapt. 5, 1882.

UNITED ASTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. SNEDIKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL SEWING MACHINE COMPANY, (LIMITED,) OF SAME PLAGE.

CLAMPING DEVICE FOR BUTTON-HOLE SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 263,979, dated September 5, 1882.

Application filed July 15, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. SNEDIKEE, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,haveinvented certain Improvements in Clamping Devices for Button-Hole Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so construct a clamping device for button-hole sewing-maV chines that the same may be readily adapted to the different classes of work to be done and may be manipulated'with facility.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the device; Fig. 2, a diagram; Fig. 3, a side view, partly in section; Fig. .t. a rear view, partly in section and Fig. 5, Sheet 2, a perspective view with the parts detached from each other.

A is the plate to which the leather, cloth, or other material has to be clamped, this plate having an opening. y, of the character shown in the detached view, Fig. 2, and being so traversed that button-hole stitches will be made in the course indicated by the dotted lines by mechanism of which the needle x is an element.

As my present invention does not relate to mechanism for traversing the plate, but simply to the clamping devices, it will suffice here to refer to the Patent No'. 252,984, granted to the assignees of W. W. Abbott, January 31, 1882, as showing an example of traversing mechanism for the plate. 'Iwo spring clamping-arms, B B', are secured at their outer ends to the plate A by set-screws a, which also serve as pivot-pins, as will appear hereinafter, these arms being bent to the shape substantially as shown in Fig. 3, and to the outer end of each arm is loosely connected a clamping-plate, b, which will accommodate itself to the material against which it is pressed.

In the present instance a set-screw, e, passes through each arm and into the plate in such a manner that the latter can oscillate freely, the plate being confined laterally by a projection, d, fitting freely in an opening in the arm.

It may be remarked here that pressureplates b of different lengths are required-short plates for short button-holes, such as those of boots and shoes, and longer plates for such button-holes as those of coats, Stef-and that the plates can be readily removed when they have to be replaced by others of different lengths.

A pin or post, D, is secured to the plate A, Y

and over this pin a sleeve, E, is iitted snugly, but so as to slide freely, a feather or other device, however, preventing the sleeve from turning on the piu. The pin D and its sleeve E 0ccupy a central position between the two clamp- 6o ing-arms, which are out away to receive the sleeve, so that the latter cannot interfere with the movement of the said arms.

The hub It of a lever, H, is adapted to turn to a limited extent on the sleeve E, and the upper ed ge of the hub is cutaway so as to form a cam, m, for bearin g against a projection, t', on the sleeve, so that as the hub of the lever bears on the clamping-arms the latter will be depressed when the lever is moved in one di- 7o rection and-will rise when it is moved ina contrary direction, for a spiral spring, at, coiled round the pin D, or any other suitable spring, tends to elevate the clamping-arms.

As leather or fabric differing in thickness has to be clamped by the arms to the plate A, itis important that provision shouldbe made for depressing the arms to different extents, the movement of the lever to cause the depres sion being always the same.

A set-screw, Gr, passes through the top of the sleeve E and into the pin'D. The more the sleeve is depressed by turning this screw in one direction (the projection t' being depressed with the sleeve) the greater will be the depres- 8 5 sion of the outer ends of the arms B B and their clam pin g-plates, and on turning the screw in the opposite direction there will be a less depression of the arms during the movement of the lever H. 9o

A prominent feature of my invention is the' stretching of the material by and betweenthe clamping-arms, so as to spread open the incision made for the button-hole, just as these arms are concluding their downward movement and just as the material is receiving its final pressure against the plate A. In order to effect this purpose I form on the hub h of the lever H two cam-like projections, p p, which bear simultaneously against projections on the clamp- 10o ing-arms, and move the same apart on the pivots a a j ust as the lever H is concluding its movement, thereby stretching the material beneath the clamping-plates just as it is receiving its final pressure.

It should be understood that the clampingarms are connected together by a spring, w, which tends to close the arms when they are free from the influence of the projections p on the hub of the cam-lever.

In sewing button-holes in leather, however, this stretching operation will be objectiona` ble. Hence I make the projections on the clamping-arms adjustable, so that they can be moved beyond the range of the camsp 1) on the lever H, the projections consisting of two set-screws, fu o, the points of which may be brought under the inluence or freed from the influence of the said cams on the lever.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of the pivoted clampingarms with the lever Il, having cams m and 19,

whereby a single movement ot' the lever is caused to effect the depression of the arms and the spreading or separation of the same, as set forth.

2. lfhe combination of the pivoted clampingarins, the cam-lever H, the sleeve E, having an abutment for the lever, the adjusting-screw Gr, and the lifting-spring n, as set forth.

3. The combination of the lever H, having cams p, with the pivoted clamping-arms having adjustable projections o for being acted upon by said camsynas set forth. e* Y In testimony Whereofl have signed my naine to lthis speciticationiu the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES F. SNEDIKER.

Witnesses:

HARRY DRURY, HARRY SMITH. 

